However, she was not one to leave money lying around unused and lifeless. She immediately took out a portion of it and bought a small plot of land in the suburbs of the capital. Instead of leasing it to farmers, she sent the idle guards in her household to work on it in shifts every day.
Most of the guards in Prince Zhao's mansion were young men who had returned from the Linchuan army after their military service. Some of them were originally farmers before joining the army. Although they were unfamiliar with working in the fields at first, they gradually got the hang of it after going there a few times.
Those who returned from working in the fields each day could receive a stipend of five copper coins from Steward Chen. The guards in the mansion were increasingly envious of this job and worked with great enthusiasm.
In short, thanks to Luo Cuiwei's various small-scale, piecemeal efforts, the Zhaowang Mansion's once impoverished treasury gradually changed.
On the third day of the sixth lunar month, Gao Zhan, the young master of the Duke of He's mansion, sent a visiting card and came to pay his respects. He was stunned by the completely renovated appearance of the Prince Zhao's mansion.
"Xiao Weiwei, what are you doing..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
After all, he's from a prestigious family, so he knows how to speak appropriately.
He thought Luo Cuiwei had moved the Luo family's treasury to subsidize Prince Zhao's mansion. As soon as he said it, he realized that it might damage Prince Zhao's mansion's reputation, so he quickly stopped himself.
Luo Cuiwei didn't seem to care, and casually laughed: "Now that Luo Fengming is in charge of my household, I haven't used any of my own money to pay for it. It's all money from the Prince Zhao's mansion that's been used."
“No wonder when His Highness Prince Rui came to your house to propose marriage, he told my father-in-law, ‘If you’re going to marry, you should marry Luo Cuiwei,’” Gao Zhan said as he walked, turning his head to look at her with a smile, his noble and handsome face filled with mixed emotions. “His Highness Prince Rui is truly discerning.”
What kind of nonsense and excessive praise is this? Luo Cuiwei glanced at him with an annoyed smile: "Just say what you want to say."
Because Luo Fengming went south to seek other business opportunities and has been away from the capital for the past few months, Gao Zhan has had less contact with the Luo family.
Yesterday, Gao Zhan suddenly sent a visiting card to the Prince Zhao's residence requesting to see Luo Cuiwei, which surprised Luo Cuiwei. After all, Gao Zhan had previously been in contact with Luo Fengming, and he wasn't particularly familiar with her.
"Fengming always says you have a quick temper, and it's true." He smiled so broadly that his eyes crinkled, and he simply stopped in his tracks under the corridor.
A hint of embarrassment crossed his handsome face. "I ran into a bit of trouble and wanted to ask Feng Ming for help, but he wasn't home, so I had to ask his sister for help."
Well, to put it bluntly, it's about borrowing money.
Luo Cui smiled and said, "Then you have to tell me first what it's about."
If this young master intends to use the money for evil deeds, she won't add fuel to the fire.
“I… I accidentally chipped the gem on the scabbard of my father-in-law’s most treasured short sword,” Gao Zhan said, bowing his head in shame. “If he finds out, I’ll definitely get a beating. I have to buy the same gem and have it re-set before he finds out.”
He had already asked a jewelry store to find the same gem, but they wouldn't give him credit. He didn't dare ask his family for such a large sum of money at this time, otherwise, if his family asked what the money was for, they would easily find out what "good deeds" he had done.
“It’s no problem for Luo Fengming’s sister to help out his friend,” Luo Cuiwei said, relieved that it was such a harmless little thing. She then joked with him, “But Luo Fengming’s sister is a shrewd businesswoman. There’s always some benefit in exchange.”
“I will pay it back,” Gao Zhan said pitifully, putting his hands together in front of her. “Once the gemstone is re-set, I will ask my family for the money again, and then it will be fine.”
Luo Cuiwei raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If you can get me a few pieces of information about Linchuan and ask if His Highness Prince Zhao is safe, I won't ask for a refund. Consider it money I'm paying you for the information. Do you have a way?"
Gao Zhan laughed heartily and replied decisively, "I'll go back and ask my second brother; I'll be able to find out a few things!"
In fact, Duke He himself must have known more and more detailed information about this matter.
But since it is a border military secret, and there is no word of it outside, the court must be trying to keep it a secret. If Gao Zhan dares to ask his father-in-law about it now, he would be lucky to get a beating.
But his second brother was different.
His second elder brother was Gao Yu, the commander of the Imperial City Guard. He frequently visited the Emperor and was always well-informed. He also doted on Gao Yu, and Gao Yu would only ask him a few questions about the battle situation and whether the commander was safe, and Gao Yu would always get some information from him.
Luo Cuiwei then gave Gao Zhan the amount of money he needed in silver notes without even asking for a receipt, which moved Gao Zhan deeply.
****
The next morning, while Luo Cuiwei was still half asleep, a maid carefully entered and woke her up.
"Madam, Steward Chen sent me to announce that a distinguished guest has arrived and wishes to see you."
Luo Cuiwei lay drowsily on her pillow and mumbled, "Is it Gao Zhan from the Duke of He's mansion?"
"No, Young Master Gao sent a message saying that he has something to attend to at home today and can't come to see you today, but he will come again tomorrow afternoon," the maid said softly, seeing her tired appearance. "His messenger also told you that he has obtained what you asked for and will hand it over to you in person tomorrow."
Luo Cuiwei lazily yawned, raised her hand to cover her eyes and sat up, nodding, "Who is this distinguished guest?"
Since both Steward Chen and the maid respectfully addressed each other as "distinguished guests," they must not be from the Luo family.
The maid paused, then whispered, "The person who came to greet us personally was settled in the main hall and served tea before he came out to tell me to inform the madam. I only caught a glimpse from afar and didn't see clearly."
"Who is this person, talking nonsense?" Luo Cuiwei ruffled her slightly messy hair with annoyance, squinted her sleepy eyes, turned around and sat on the edge of the couch, kicking her legs a few times in the air.
"It seems... they came incognito, as if they didn't intend to be too conspicuous," the maid said uncertainly.
The term "undercover travel" is a bit mysterious.
Luo Cuiwei was mostly awake. "It can't be the Emperor and Empress themselves, can it?"
The maid shook her head.
"Oh, so which prince is it?" Luo Cuiwei was fully awake now, and smiled sassily. "Please have a seat for a moment, my esteemed guest. I will be there shortly."
Although she had no title or rank, she was still someone who held half of the golden seal of the Prince of Zhao; no matter which prince the other party was, she only needed to treat him with courtesy, and no one could bully her.
Let's go see who it is and what they're up to. Hmph.
----2018/3/9 6:18:23|51819808----
41. Chapter Forty-One
Upon arriving at the main hall and seeing who it was, Luo Cuiwei rolled her eyes inwardly.
The visitor was Prince An, Yun Huan, the eighth son of Emperor Xianlong, one of the five princes currently holding the title of Grand Prince, and Yun Lie's younger brother.